Boisterous sprint king Noah Lyles makes audacious 200m claim

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ATHLETICS: Boisterous sprint king Noah Lyles makes audacious 200m claim

Festus Chuma 10:00 - 06.10.2023

American sprinter Noah Lyles passionately champions the 200m, overcoming personal struggles and influencing a new generation of emerging athletes.

Three-time world champion Noah Lyles has become synonymous with the 200m race, an event he describes with unmatched passion. 

Despite facing early-life challenges that included dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder, and depression, Lyles has cemented his position at the pinnacle of international sprinting.

Lyles' remarkable journey is defined not just by his gold medal-winning performances, but also by his mental fortitude. 

Speaking about his past struggles in an interview with Athletics Weekly, Lyles remarked, "There’s no way I would have this camera directly in my face if I weren't in a good place right now. To be honest, this is the best I’ve ever felt in my life."

However, it is his love for the 200m that truly stands out. "The 200m is my home. It’s where I live. I eat, sleep and breathe 200m. I dream about the 200m," Lyles exclaims with the conviction of a true champion. His intimate knowledge of the event is palpable, "I know that turn, I know that straightaway, I know every 10-metre increment, I know where people get stuck at, I know where people try to speed up at."

His unparalleled grasp of the 200m dynamics makes him a formidable contender every time he takes to the track.

 "Any time that I get to make it faster, It’s like ‘wow, it’s a whole new race’," Lyles adds with palpable enthusiasm.

Yet, there is an Olympic gold-shaped void in Lyles' impressive resume, a feat that has eluded him so far. His 200m bronze from the Tokyo Olympics was a source of considerable disappointment. But, undeterred, Lyles is setting his sights even higher, focusing on perfecting the 100m as well. He believes, "If I want to make the 200m faster, I have to get faster at the 100m. So why would I just shoot for the sky when I can aim for the stars in that event?”

The sprinting arena is brimming with promising talents, including the likes of American Erriyon Knighton and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. The competition is fierce, but Lyles is optimistic, drawing strength from the trends he and his brother Josephus set during their early years in the sport.

Reflecting on the newer generation of sprinters, Lyles remarks, "I knew that somebody was going to ask: ‘What do you think of the new guy [coming through]?’ And instead of that being me, it’s now somebody else. I wanted to be able to say that I started a trend of athletes going straight pro, right out of World Juniors, because that hadn’t been done before [Lyles and his brother Josephus turned professional as teenagers in 2016]."

In looking at the fresh faces and immense talent surrounding him, Lyles feels a sense of accomplishment and pride.

 "Me and my brother started that and, now that I look around, and I look at all these amazing talented young people… you know, we created something,” he noted.

However, Lyles' ambition does not end there as he remains fiercely competitive and committed to staying at the top. 

"But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna let up anymore. I ain’t getting to the top to be pulled down, now!” he declared.

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